Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as German growth figures and eurozone inflation give the latest clues on the state of the bloc’s economy 9.33am GMT Here is our full story on the Dairy Crest deal: Related: Canada's Saputo to buy Dairy Crest in near-£1bn deal9.32am GMT Confidence among German firms fell for the sixth month in February, as business leaders expect only sluggish growth in Europe’s largest economy. The German economy is experiencing a down

A catering company which supplies food to aged care facilities, private hospitals and food outlets across Melbourne is temporarily shut down after authorities draw a possible link between the death of a woman in her 80s and the company's kitchen.

The unemployment rate in Western Australia has reached its highest since 2002 and, despite a new promise of 150,000 more jobs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry warns there will be more short-term pain before any long-term employment gains.

The unemployment rate in Western Australia has reached its highest since 2002 and, despite a new promise of 150,000 more jobs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry warns there will be short-term pain before any long-term employment gains.

A surplus of £14.9bn in January was the highest since monthly records began, in a boost to Philip Hammond ahead of his spring statement on 13 MarchEurozone economy ‘close to stagnation’ in February
Barclays pledges to hand shareholders more cashCentrica shares fall after gloomy outlook for 2019Trump says ‘no magical date’ in trade talks with China 3.13pm GMT Time for a quick summary: 2.54pm GMT Some more upbeat US data just out, as a pick-up in services growth in Fe

Deals containing clauses that threaten human rights are being debated in parliament – they must be defeatedThe government cancelled parliament’s recess at short notice so as not to give the impression MPs were on holiday a matter of weeks before we face crashing out of the EU.The international trade secretary, Liam Fox, is using the opportunity to avoid proper scrutiny of plans that threaten our rights, our environment and our democracy. He tabled a general debate on post-Brexit trad

The chancellor will adopt a wait-and-see approach to talks before allocating his surplus fundsThe largest January budget surplus on record smashed City expectations and was a real surprise given the recent downbeat economic news. But Philip Hammond will take the gift with open arms.It is now five weeks until the scheduled date for Britain to leave the European Union and while most political and financial market analysts expect the current logjam to be broken, a no-deal outcome remains a possibil

Figure of £14.9bn is biggest January surplus since records began in 1993Britain has recorded the biggest-ever monthly surplus in public finances since the early 1990s, putting the government on a strong footing in the run-up to Brexit, now less than 40 days away.In a rare piece of positive economic news for Philip Hammond as he prepares for his spring statement next month, income from taxes outstripped public spending by £14.9bn, the biggest January surplus since records began in 199